Irregular migrations into South Africa: a comparative analysis of the Beitbridge Border Control and management system in apartheid and post-apartheid eras, 1980-2017

Abstract

This study examined the border control and management mechanisms that were in place during the apartheid era and those that exist now that curb illegal entry into South Africa through the Beitbridge Border. In order to fully understand this, the study examined the nature of South Africa’s Beitbridge Border control and management systems in apartheid and post-apartheid eras. This was done in view of the fact that immigrants flocked into apartheid South Africa in large numbers, and this trend worsened after South Africa became a democratic government in 1994. Given the tendency by undocumented nationals from South Africa’s neighbouring states to illegally cross into the country at will, the study argued that border control mechanisms are lax. It determined that there are collusions among the immigration officials, army, the police and human traffickers at the Beitbridge border post that facilitate such irregular entries. This was in view of the fact that there are tens of thousands of undocumented Zimbabweans who live in Johannesburg and Thohoyandou, among many places in South Africa. Another salient feature of this phenomenon was that South Africa deports almost a thousand of these every month, but a few days after their deportations, the same people are back in the country. This study was done qualitatively in order to gather data from various individuals connected with the phenomenon.